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03/17/2020 12:00 AMThe Town of Madison on March 15 declared a State of Emergency Preparedness at an emergency Board of Selectmen (BOS) meeting in response to the worldwide coronavirus epidemic.
Town campus will also be closed to the public except by appointment beginning on Monday and lasting a minimum of two weeks, according to First Selectman Peggy Lyons, as officials navigate a mostly unprecedented health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus, which has in recent weeks swept through the state and across the country.
Connecticut has reported 41 cases of the virus at press time, though Madison has no confirmed cases, Health Director Trent Joseph said March 13.
The town is operating under the assumption that there are coronavirus cases in Madison, on recommendation of the state Department of Public Health because there are still very few tests.
The town had previously canceled all events and closed all town facilities, including athletic fields, through March 31. Madison’s schools also announced they would shut down indefinitely on March 13 in response to the pandemic.
Additionally, the BOS on March 15 canceled two upcoming special town meetings and two public hearings, all dealing with a recent lease modification agreement between the town and Our Lady of Mercy Preparatory Academy (OLMPA) regarding the Island Avenue school building.
All “non-essential” government functions are canceled through March 31. Elected boards can hold meetings at discretion of the chair. The Planning & Zoning Commission has opted to postpone public hearings on the marina project and General’s Residence.
The emergency declaration gives Lyons more direct power, which town attorney Floyd Dugas, who spoke during the March 15 meeting via phone, said were “broad and vague” as defined by Madison’s charter and state statute.
“Best answer I can give is...it’s really broad authority that we are talking about,” Dugas said.
Town officials emphasized that the declaration itself is not unprecedented—snowstorms and hurricanes have seen Madison operate under the same declaration. Emergency Management Director Sam DeBurrra said the practical point is that the town does not have to wait to convene a BOS meeting to respond quickly to situations, citing quarantines or curfews, though he said the town was “not at that point yet.”
“Hopefully we won’t get to that point,” he added.
The charter also requires that “[a]ll emergency ordinances and regulations” taken during the state of emergency must be explained as to how they relate to the crisis, and are automatically repealed 21 days after the declaration.
Dugas said it was not clear whether under the authority of the declaration, Lyons could cancel town meetings or other board functions unilaterally. Lyons said that she intended to go on with other public hearings and government functions if possible, and would await further guidance from the state on how to deal with the issue of needing to call a town meeting for many actions in town as required by charter.
“The key message is, you will have access to government still, we’re just trying to figure out ways...to do it well and efficiently in this unknown territory,” Lyons said.
The decision to essentially close town campus to the public was made based on recommendations from Joseph and Director of Human Resources Deb Milardo, as well as the examples of other towns around the state, according to Lyons and other town officials.
Starting March 16, residents will have to make appointments for any in-person services at town campus, which will be available Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. through 2 p.m., according to Lyons. Milardo is also putting together a list of services that residents can access via phone or online, she said at the March 15 meeting.
Milardo and others emphasized that town employees will continue to be providing their services, checking email and voicemails.
Police Chief Jack Drumm threw his full support behind both the declaration and the decision to limit town employee’s exposure, and emphasized it was more about preparedness and being proactive.
“I think people are going to criticize no matter what...We have an obligation to get out in front of this, and we have the opportunity. Other countries haven’t. We’re in the mitigation phase right now...I think it’s imperative that we mitigate the risk, reduce the risk, reduce the exposure,” he said.
Selectman Al Goldberg focused on staying united and not being overwhelmed or falling to fear during the ongoing crisis.
“I think we all have a responsibility to maintain our sense of community of caring for and caring about each other. So I urge us all to be informed and stay calm, and recognize we’re all in this together,” Goldberg said.
Other personnel questions, including what might happen with part-time or temporary employees, and how many town employees might be asked to work from home, would be addressed early this wek, according to Lyons.
Lyons also thanked the employees of the town who have been working “around the clock” to address the crisis. She also lauded Abigail White of Madison Public Access, who has been putting together livestreams of recent BOS meetings, and potentially can help the town put out other live public service announcements in the future, Lyons said.
“I think everybody’s rising up to be their best,” Lyons said.